For doctors wishing to go beyond being a “tooth doctor,” our dental courses in the core curriculum will set you on the path of becoming a “physician of the masticatory system.” The following is the overall recommended course plan for The Dawson Academy’s dental continuing education courses. Courses in the “Dental Medical” and “Advanced” tracks are elective courses for Doctors. Courses in the “Team“ track are courses for dental team members.
Core 1:
Functional Occlusion – From TMJ to Smile Design
This dental seminar is the recommended first step in The Dawson Academy’s dental continuing education courses. Functional Occlusion from TMJ to Smile Design is your gateway to a proven path of clinical and professional excellence. As the foundational seminar in the “Concept of Complete Dentistry TM Series,” you will learn the timeless message that good, esthetic and complete dentistry must begin with a thorough understanding of occlusion and the functions of the masticatory system. The cornerstone of The Dawson Academy philosophy is a comprehensive understanding of how the TM joint, muscles, proprioceptive input, lower anterior teeth, upper anterior teeth, lower posterior teeth and upper posterior teeth are designed to function in harmony with one another.
Core 2:
Comprehensive Examination & Records
This Dawson Academy hands-on dental course will provide the participant the technical and managerial skills to institute a comprehensive examination process into his/her practice. The complete examination, and the accompanying records, are the absolute cornerstone of the Dawson philosophy and a necessity in the continuing education for dental professionals. During this hands-on section of our functional occlusion continuing education curriculum you will discover procedural skills for records and examinations, as well as provide tips for training your staff on the parts of the evaluation process that can be delegated. (Limited to 20 dentists)
Core 3:
Treatment Planning Functional Esthetic Excellence
This Dawson Academy hands-on course provides continuing education for dental professionals seeking a programmed approach to diagnosis and treatment planning. Utilizing the standardized records discussed in our dental seminars Functional Occlusion- from TMJ to Smile Design and Achieving Predictable Esthetic Results each dentist will discover how to visualize optimum dentistry from an esthetic, functional, biological and structural perspective. As a part of your continuing education in dentistry special emphasis will be placed on the four treatment options: reshaping, repositioning, restoring and surgical correction. After gaining knowledge in these areas, our instructors walk through case studies showing you the correct option(s) for each patient. (Limited to 20 dentists)
Core 4:
Achieving Predictable Esthetic Results
This restorative dental course will provide the students with the procedural knowledge to do contemporary restorative procedures at the highest level. This dental seminar will leave each student with a clear understanding of the four options of treatment: Reshaping, Repositioning, Restoring and Surgical alternatives.
Core 5:
The Art & Science of Equilibration
This Dawson Academy hands-on course provides continuing education for dentists who need to implement a process of occlusal therapy within their dental practice. Equilibration is a cornerstone for treatment of occlusal disease, and as such, any dentist who wishes to practice complete dentistry must know how to perform all aspects of it correctly. As a participant, you will discover the importance of the trial equilibration and be given the opportunity to adjust several different case types to insure your complete understanding of the material presented. This dental continuing education course includes lectures, videos of patient treatment, and hands-on exercises to provide you with the knowledge and confidence to return home and implement occlusal treatments in your practice on Monday morning.
Core 6:
This Dawson Academy restorative dental course is a hands-on program that will teach you to accomplish anterior restorative procedures at the highest level. All direct and indirect options for the restoration of anterior teeth will be discussed in this course. This dental continuing education course includes lectures, recorded patient videos, and hands-on exercises designed to give you confidence using anterior direct resin veneers, stacked and pressed ceramic veneers, pressed ceramic crowns, anterior zirconia crowns and bridges, and porcelain fused to metal in your practice. Most importantly, in this esthetic dentistry course you will learn which material should be considered for each individual patient based on circumstances. (Limited to 20 dentists)
Core 7:
This dental course will provide the participant with the necessary information to solve complex dental problems. A programmed approach to treatment planning will be presented so that each student will learn how to solve the 4 functional and 12 esthetic goals when given any set of circumstances. Extreme occlusal wear, anterior open bites, deep overbites, extreme overjet and Class III malocclusions will be discussed. Neutral zone and vertical dimension will be covered in detail as it pertains to the treatment of the above problems.
The Dawson Academy Electives for Doctors
The following courses are intended for dentists who have a need to go beyond the basics of what we teach in the Core Curriculum. Each of these courses have a very high satisfaction rate from the students who have attended them in the past.
Mastering Complex Cases is an intensive, hands-on dental course that will take your dental knowledge to the highest level – implementation. By diagnosing, treatment planning and developing a plan for phasing treatment, your confidence and competence to successfully treat major restorative cases will soar.
Mastering Interdisciplinary Treatment
There is nothing more rewarding in the practice of dentistry than working with a team of like-minded dental professionals to solve complex functional/esthetic problems. This hands-on dental continuing education course will provide a unique opportunity for Restorative Dentists to bring their Orthodontist, Periodontist and Oral Surgeon together for a learning retreat. Dr. John Cranham’s Interdisciplinary Team (Albert Koniko DDS-Periodontist, Carl Roy DDS-Orthodontist and Mike Maugeri-Oral Surgeon) will share their expertise on how they created a shared philosophy of esthetics, occlusion, case planning, sequencing, and day-to-day communication. The use of power point, high-resolution video, and hands-on exercises will be utilized to illustrate the resolution of multiple complex cases.
Advanced Diagnostics and Phase 1 Treatment
This dental course will pick up where Comprehensive Examination and Records left off and teach a systematic process for advanced records when TMD pathology is suspected. A systematic process for the evaluation, differential diagnosis and treatment/management of patients exhibiting signs and symptoms of TMD will be developed. A significant focus will be placed on occlusal splint therapy and the development of an individualized patient management plan of which splint therapy is one component. The use of occlusal splint therapy in cases of nocturnal bruxism, during and following treatment of certain restorative cases will be included.
